New Delhi: According to personal accounts narrated by those present, journalists from various organisations had to face an attack from an angry crowd during the Hindu Mahapanchayat organised on the Burari grounds on Sunday.
The journalists, who were attacked, include two freelancers on assignment for The Caravan and The Hindustan Gazette, one freelance photojournalist and a journalist representing The Quint. Two journalists from the Newslaundry were also reportedly attacked by the crowd.
According to the journalists, they had gone to the Burari grounds to cover the Hindu Mahapanchayat attended by Yati Narsinghanand, a seer from Ghaziabad out on bail and infamous for his hate speeches delivered at similar events earlier.
The reporters claimed that they were attacked by the mob attending the event and their equipment was seized and photographs and videos of the event were deleted.
Earlier, the information coming in from the ground suggested that the journalists were detained by the Delhi Police. However, DCP North-West Delhi contradicted the claims and said the journalists were taken away by police to protect them from the angry crowd.
Journalists, who were manhandled, are currently at Mukherji Nagar police station, and are in process of filing an FIR against the members of the crowd who attacked them.
Reasons for the outburst from the crowd are not known yet.
“We are currently at Mukherji Nagar police station in New Delhi. Just a few moments earlier, a few of us journalists who were covering the Hindu Mahapanchayat at Burari ground in New Delhi today were manhandled and assaulted by a mob present there with police officials nearby. Two journalists were particularly physically assaulted. Five of us journalists, four of whom are Muslim journalists were detained by the police and brought to police station,” a journalist, who was among those attacked by the mob, told HW News.
DCP North-West Delhi, however, refuted the claim by the journalist.
“Brief facts: Some of the reporters, willingly,on their own free will,to evade the crowd which was getting agitated by their presence,sat in PCR Van stationed at the venue and opted to proceed to Police Stn for security reasons. No one was detained.Due police protection was provided,.” The DCP said.
“For spreading misinformation, due necessary action shall be initiated against such persons,” he warned.
Brieffacts:Some of the reporters, willingly,on their own free will,to evade the crowd which was getting agitated by their presence,sat in PCR Van stationed at the venue and opted to proceed to Police Stn for security reasons. No one was detained.Due police protection was provided https://t.co/zl7XyDpNE9
— DCP North-West Delhi (@DCP_NorthWest) April 3, 2022
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
